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Adelstein to Succeed Fitch as PCIA’s Head

September 14, 2012

Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service, former FCC commissioner and Senate aide, will be Mike Fitch’s successor as PCIA’s president and CEO. PCIA could not do much better than tap into the experience of Adelstein, who has the one-two-three punch of serving at the FCC, the U.S. Senate and the USDA. It would give the association the street cred it needs to further the regulatory and legislative goals of the wireless industry within Washington’s corridors of power.

“Jonathan possesses the leadership ability, industry knowledge and policy experience to lead PCIA for the future,” said Marc Ganzi, CEO of Global Tower Partners and chairman of the PCIA Board of Directors. “PCIA continues to grow and ably represent the rapidly evolving wireless infrastructure industry. Our next great challenge is to address the wireless data crunch. We will aggressively pursue policies that reduce barriers to network deployment, increase spectrum efficiencies and expand wireless infrastructure.”

Most recently Adelstein’s expertise was recognized by President Obama who nominated him to serve as the Administrator of USDA’s Rural Utilities Service in 2009. Before that Adelstein served as commissioner of the FCC from 2002 to 2009. Additionally, Adelstein has 15 years of experience as U.S. staff member, including seven years senior legislative aide to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), where he advised him on among other things telecommunications policy.

“I’m thrilled to begin this new chapter in the private sector with a strong organization that has done so much to help an industry that is improving the American economy and quality of life,” said Adelstein. “It’s the ideal opportunity for me to continue my efforts to maximize wireless broadband everywhere, and to facilitate industry efforts to deploy urgently needed infrastructure to meet the exploding demand for wireless data.”

Adelstein’s departure of the USDA was announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday, who thanked him for his three years of service, administering investments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in rural America.